Well, you are right. Improper operation, because first of all, never travel while operating the hydraulics, and secondly, maintain the forks as low to the ground as possible.

Using an analogy, we have air bags in our cars with seatbelts, and if we decide to drive in oncoming traffic at 70MPH and hit an 18 wheeler head on, I guess the protection equipment won't save our lives.

So, if someone is incorrectly trained, or ignores proper operating procedures, and drives with the forks elevated, and hits an overhead crane with the mast, what can you do?

Unfortunately, he paid the price.